Blissbury Manor. Or simply *Blissbury*.
It was the only place in Feltham that could properly be called an estate.
And yet it was more beautiful than any other estate—not only in Cambon, but in all the surrounding villages.
Originally built for quiet, secluded retreats, it was smaller than other great houses.
However, the gardens—which retained their natural beauty—and the exquisite interior decoration were in no way inferior to the famous estates of New.
Therefore, everyone who came to Blissbury could not contain their admiration, finding it far more beautiful than they had imagined.
---
"But what about this new manager? And what will happen to Father?"
Mr. Severton, having retired, lived on his university pension and the fees he earned consulting on matters of history and ancient languages.
But fees, as is usually the case, were set at the client's discretion. This meant income was always unstable. Furthermore, the pension wasn't quite sufficient for a family of three—including their maid, Emily—to live comfortably.
In short, even with all their income combined, they would have had to tighten their belts. Yet the Severton family lived quite prosperously.
And all because Mr. Severton's earnings as manager of Blissbury were *very* high.
Being a manager did not mean he personally repaired the estate or tended the gardens.
He simply monitored whether the hired workers performed their duties well. This position was Mr. Severton's primary source of income.
Baron Stanford, a close friend of Mr. Severton and knowing his integrity, had entrusted him with the management of his precious estate.
The fee was five hundred pounds a year—the annual income of a middle-class gentleman.
Mr. Severton, naturally honest and industrious, looked after Blissbury with the utmost care.
That was why Eloise often accompanied her father there.
Although the social life of the capital held no interest for her, looking upon Blissbury, every now and then a slight admiration for the grand and brilliant world would awaken within her.
*There are probably many such estates in New. Estates with long histories, with portraits and sculptures of their owners, with a multitude of books accumulated over centuries...*
*And yet, for now, I like Feltham better.*
However, perhaps because of the estate's charm, Eloise loved Blissbury as much as her father did.
And now a new manager was coming.
Eloise's shoulders slumped.
"So visiting Blissbury will be difficult from now on."
It was considered good form to open an empty estate to visitors, but frequent visits from the *former* manager might unsettle the new one.
This meant that once the transfer of affairs was complete, she would not be able to go there without an invitation.
"Oh, I don't think that will be necessary. Even though he's the manager, he only plans to stay for a year—perhaps less. This man is a military officer, an acquaintance of the baron's family, and he's coming to Blissbury to heal the wounds of war."
"I see."
Eloise tried to remember Baron Stanford, whom she had briefly met as a child.
He was about the same age as her father, so his friend must be a senior officer.
*Perhaps he is a retired military man coming here with his family to recover from the hardships of the war that ended last year.*
While she was wondering what preparations might be needed for an elderly guest, Mr. Severton continued reading the letter.
"The man coming is named Ryan... he served in the 57th Infantry Battalion..."
"*Ryan?* In the 57th Infantry Battalion?"
Eloise's voice rose involuntarily.
It was unladylike, but Mr. Severton didn't reproach his daughter. He understood perfectly well the reason for such a reaction.
"Calm yourself. His name is Sergeant Ryan Thornton—a collateral branch of the Baron Stanford family."
Mr. Severton folded the letter and smiled gently.
"He's not *your* Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Wilgrave."
---
Eloise bit her lip at the mention of that name.
**Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Wilgrave.**
Was there anyone in Albion who didn't know it?
Coming from an obscure northern fief, he had joined the army to defend his country and fought more bravely than anyone else.
However, bravery alone rarely brings fame. Judging by the depth of patriotism, the Albion army—besides Ryan Wilgrave—included tens of thousands of worthy men.
His name became famous after he saved the life of the Commander-in-Chief and the Queen's second son, the Duke of Kent.
Having deciphered the enemy's code and exposed a spy, he managed at the very last moment to divert the barrel of a pistol aimed at the Duke.
This alone was enough to earn him the Order of the Black Lion, but his exploits did not end there.
Having secured the right to independent operations for his battalion, he swept across the battlefields like a whirlwind, changing the course of engagements in areas unfavorable to the army.
Moreover, he shuttled between the two countries, conducting negotiations that ensured the successful conclusion of the Treaty of Réjane.
*Tactics. Military prowess. Diplomatic skill.*
He was a man born to become a soldier—no, a *hero* of his era.
Everyone unanimously agreed that the recent peace talks would not have concluded so quickly and smoothly if not for Ryan Wilgrave.
---
However, all this glory crumbled to dust with the end of the war.
Just when rumors were circulating that the Queen would grant him a title and lands, a statement was issued from military circles containing accusations against him.
There were more than one or two charges. They ranged from relatively minor offenses—like embezzlement of government property—to more serious ones, such as willful disregard of orders from high command and unauthorized control of a battalion.
Each of these charges was punishable by severe penalties under the military code.
But the greatest problem concerned Albion's most crushing defeat.
**The Battle of Ingon.**
Several battalions had been lost there, and the entire ground army suffered such catastrophic losses that it faltered. The 57th Infantry Battalion was the *only* unit to return alive from the very center of that battle.
Although there were casualties, the majority of the Fifty-Seventh returned safely—and this fact, rather than raising suspicion, had initially lifted the morale of the entire army.
There was not a day when Lieutenant Colonel Wilgrave's name did not appear in the newspapers. Everyone in Albion spoke his name almost as often as they spoke the name of God.
But then came an anonymous letter, purporting to expose the miracle's dirty underbelly.
It claimed that the lieutenant colonel had deliberately ignored orders from command and had cowardly saved himself by exploiting the losses of neighboring infantry battalions.
---
Naturally, a scandal erupted within the army.
High command announced an investigation and indefinitely postponed the planned presentation of his medal.
They also somehow *quietly* stopped discussing the title the Queen herself was supposed to grant him.
Meanwhile, accusations continued to arrive.
Reports poured in about threats to other soldiers, behavior unbecoming of a military man, and actions bordering on crime.
For a public seeking new sensations after the war, the dark side of a man once called a hero became ideal fodder for gossip.
Newspapers that had previously sung his praises now published critical articles, accompanied by mocking cartoons.
Within months, Ryan Wilgrave's name had become synonymous with the military's greatest disgrace.
Because of this, his portraits—which had been sold throughout the capital—suddenly disappeared from shop windows.
But Mr. Severton knew.
He knew that one of them—the finest quality print available—still hung in Eloise's room.
Even when public opinion had turned completely against him, Eloise remained an ardent supporter of Lieutenant Colonel Wilgrave.
---
"Even though it's a *different* Ryan, do be polite to him."
While Mr. Severton was instructing Eloise, William—having heard all he needed—bowed and went on his way.
Lancelot followed the postman as he hurried off, cackling menacingly as if ordering him to leave at once.
Unlike when he arrived, William was now pedaling vigorously.
*A new manager is coming to Blissbury! And he's an acquaintance of Baron Stanford's!*
This news would spread throughout Feltham and Cambon within a few days.
---
## — The Gathering Storm —
Everything happened as expected.
Within six hours of William leaving the Severtons' house, news of the new manager had spread throughout Feltham.
The ladies of Feltham, attracted by this intriguing development, began to gather one after another at the Severtons' home.
"So how old is he? What does he look like? If he's coming here to recuperate, does that mean he's seriously ill?"
Even the usually quiet Mrs. Ogilvy fidgeted impatiently, peppering everyone with questions.
Such behavior could not be called well-mannered, but the ladies gathered understood her feelings entirely.
Just a few weeks ago, her second daughter's engagement had fallen through at the last minute.
It seemed Mrs. Ogilvy hoped that her grief-stricken daughter might find new love.
Mrs. Severton sipped her tea slowly, savoring the moment.
"Having heard of the new arrival, I naturally questioned my husband in more detail. Unfortunately, nothing is known about his appearance or health, but I *did* manage to learn another important piece of information."
She paused.
"Namely, that Sergeant Thornton is twenty-nine years old and still unmarried."
"*Ah!*"
**Unmarried.**
At these words, the hearts of not only Mrs. Ogilvy but of *all* mothers with daughters began to beat faster.